CDS AVAILABLE THIS WEEK
Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia [remastered reissue] - Jerry Fielding - Quartet
Clark - Mikael Akerfeldt - Inside Out
The Northman - Robin Carolan, Sebastian Gainsborough - Sacred Bones
IN THEATERS TODAY
Alone Together - Graham Reynolds
Costa Brava, Lebanon - Nathan Larson
How to Please a Woman - Guy Gross
My Name Is Sara - Lucasz Targosz
Nope - Michael Abels
COMING SOON
August 31
The Innocents - Pessi Levanto - Svart
Coming Soon
Force to Fear - Matt Cannon - Howlin' Wolf
L'amica di mia madre/Ecco lingua d'argento - Alberto Baldan Bembo - Quartet
Psycho Storm Chaser - Andrew Scott Bell - Howlin' Wolf
Short Cuts 2020 - various - Quartet
Velluto nero - Alberto Baldan Bembo, Dario Bembo - Quartet
THIS WEEK IN FILM MUSIC HISTORY
July 22 - George Dreyfus born (1928)
July 22 - Richard Hill born (1942)
July 22 - Alan Menken born (1949)
July 22 - Nigel Hess born (1953)
July 22 - Jerry Goldsmith begins recording his score for Warning Shot (1966)
July 22 - Lalo Schifrin records his score for Mission: Impossible’s third season premiere, “The Heir Apparent” (1968)
July 22 - John Barry begins recording the orchestral score to King Kong (1976)
July 22 - Alan Silvestri begins recording his score for the Amazing Stories episode "Go to the Head of the Class" (1986)
July 23 - George Greeley born (1917)
July 23 - Bill Lee born (1928)
July 23 - L. Subramaniam born (1947)
July 23 - Nicholas Hooper born (1952)
July 23 - Recording sessions begin for Hugo Friedhofer’s score to The Blue Angel (1959)
July 23 - Jerry Goldsmith begins recording his score for Rio Conchos (1964)
July 23 - Leith Stevens died (1970)
July 23 - Georges Auric died (1983)
July 23 - John Addison records his score for the Amazing Stories episode "The Greible" (1986)
July 23 - Hans J. Salter died (1994)
July 23 - Piero Piccioni died (2004)
July 24 - Robert Farnon born (1917)
July 24 - Wilfred Josephs born (1927)
July 24 - Marcello Giombini born (1928)
July 24 - Les Reed born (1935)
July 24 - Alan Rawsthorne died (1971)
July 24 - Leo Shuken died (1976)
July 24 - Norman Dello Joio died (2008)
July 25 - Don Ellis born (1934)
July 25 - Denis King born (1939)
July 25 - Thurston Moore born (1958)
July 25 - Henry Mancini begins recording his score for Days of Wine and Roses (1962)
July 25 - Daniel Lopatin aka Oneohtrix Point Never born (1982)
July 25 - Bruce Broughton records his unused adaptations of Bach for The Accidental Tourist (1988)
July 25 - Patrick Williams died (2018)
July 26 - Tadeusz Baird born (1928)
July 26 - Bronislau Kaper and Scott Bradley begin recording their score for Courage of Lassie (1945)
July 26 - David Raksin begins recording his score for Too Late Blues (1961)
July 26 - Irving Gertz’s score for The Invaders episode “The Enemy” is recorded (1967)
July 26 - Sidney Cutner’s score for The Invaders episode “The Watchers” is recorded (1967)
July 26 - Robert Drasnin records his score for the Mission: Impossible episode “The Mercenaries” (1968)
July 26 - Joseph Bishara born (1970)
July 26 - Robert Drasnin records his score for the Mission: Impossible episode “Run for the Money” (1971)
July 26 - Buddy Baker died (2002)
July 27 - Marc Wilkinson born (1929)
July 27 - Bernard Herrmann records the Piano Concerto for the Hangover Square score (1944)
July 27 - Michael Linn born (1952)
July 27 - Stefan Nilsson born (1955)
July 27 - Alex North begins recording his score to The Outrage (1964)
July 27 - Max Steiner begins recording his score for Those Calloways (1964)
July 27 - Harry Lubin died (1977)
July 27 - Georges Delerue records his score for Exposed (1982)
July 27 - Jerome Moross died (1983)
July 27 - Miklos Rozsa died (1995)
July 28 - Carmen Dragon born (1914)
July 28 - Ray Ellis born (1923)
July 28 - Brian May born (1934)
July 28 - Recording sessions begin for Frederick Hollander’s score for Disputed Passage (1939)
July 28 - Richard Hartley born (1944)
July 28 - On the Waterfront opens in New York (1954)
July 28 - Richard Shores records his score for The Wild Wild West episode “The Night of the Firebrand” (1967)
July 28 - Robert Drasnin records his score for the Mission: Impossible episode “Butterfly” (1970)
July 28 - Leonard Rosenman begins recording his adaptation score for Bound for Glory (1976)
July 28 - Basil Poledouris records his score for The House of God (1980)
July 28 - Laurence Rosenthal records his score for Proud Men (1987)
DID THEY MENTION THE MUSIC?
ATTACK ON FINLAND - Lasse Enersen
"A repetition of narcotizing visual and aural cliches accompany the rote narrative: a sea of intently focused faces lit by dozens of computer screens in a darkened command center; a hopscotch of European locales identified in nondescript establishing shots; a pulsating score resembling a chugging locomotive leaving a train station. This is nothing like the absorbing Nordic noir of modern Scandinavian television and cinema. It more resembles good old-fashioned American mediocrity."
Steve Davis, The Austin Chronicle
THE BLACK PHONE - Mark Korven
"The only interruption of the otherwise consistent color scheme is the vibrancy of blood and the neon of police lights, making these moments all the more jarring. The weathered concrete of the basement is painted with brushstrokes of rust and blood: an evidential mural of violence unfettered. The upbeat '70s soundtrack is interrupted by a bassy, resonant score that reverberates in your ribs, sinks into your eardrums, and at times sounds like you’re hearing it from underground in the Grabber’s basement. The film’s opening credits flash through nostalgic B-roll of the halcyon everyday occurrences of suburban youth -- popsicles, baseball games, and sunny avenues -- only to be interlaced with the vision of bloody knees and stacks of missing persons posters."
Peyton Robinson, RogerEbert.com
MARCEL THE SHELL WITH SHOES ON - Disasterpeace
"In addition to its well-conceived, properly paced narrative, the aesthetic, auditory and animated aspects bring this universe to life. Cinematography from live-action DP Bianca Cline and stop-motion animation DP Eric Adkins is effused and poetically evocative. Academy aspect ratio (1.33:1) and documentary style photography amplify the exchange of intimacy and immediacy between subject and camera. Animators, taking cues from Slate and Rossellini’s perfectly pitched vocal inflections, give Marcel and Connie a wonderful expressiveness, both overt (like when they cry or blink) and nuanced (both in their physicality and how their mouths move). Composer Disasterpeace’s delicate undertones, along with some carefully curated soundtrack selections, complement narrative ebbs and flows."
Courtney Howard, The Onion AV Club
"The last act collects the seemingly disparate pieces of a small story, building a series of emotional payoffs that land with a tremendous power and heart. To say my theater was full of leaky faces and sniffles is an understatement. The dry eyes were in the minority, and it’s absurd realizing that some shells with buggy eyes and quiet voices can be capable of such a feat. The filmmakers’ alchemy proves yet again the potent magic of mixing the right words, performances, score and space."
Tara Bennett, Paste Magazine
"Keep in mind, these characters are just about as rudimentary as it gets in animation: one eye, no limbs, a teeny CG mouth, and that’s it. So it’s no small feat that Slate and Rossellini are able to make us feel for them. And yet, feel for them we do, which is a kind of statement unto itself: By playing on the clichés of 'reality' and nonfiction filmmaking -- including but not limited to low-saturation, Instagram-filtered lensing and a light, sinus-tickling score -- they’re able to elicit many of the same reactions you’d expect from a live-action drama. Are we so easily manipulated that a pair of glorified Pet Rocks can have such an effect on us? Frankly, yes. Pack a hankie. But don’t miss this strange, special little film."
Peter Debruge, Variety
MRS. HARRIS GOES TO PARIS - Rael Jones
"Manville’s compassionate performance is bolstered by Fabian’s detail-oriented and textured storytelling. When Ada finally makes it to Paris, we see the city as she does: In sweeping widescreen, blushing with pastel colors, with rain-covered streets sparkling like dazzling disco balls. This tone of wonderment seeps into the House of Dior, too, especially permeating Harris’s greatest scene, the Dior fashion show. Accompanied by Rael Jones’ dreamy, romantic piano score, the pageant forces even the fashion cynic to watch with bated breath. Each dress is more spectacular than the last, and Fabian, with the help of cinematographer Felix Wiedermann, makes sure to exhibit every ravishing detail. Silk flutters when its model moves. Satin breathes with a life of its own in close-ups. And when Ada’s favorite dress appears, Fabian switches to a birds-eye angle and showcases it in a kaleidoscopic view, as if we have transitioned into some heavenly daydream."
Aurora Amidon, Paste Magazine
"Director Fabian and his co-writers have a knack for making the most potentially pandering or sentimental developments go down like a delectable sorbet, so much so that even such glaring anachronisms as Mrs. Harris’ 'You go, girl' affirmation are endearing. And although they keep Gallico’s original somber outcome concerning Mrs. Harris’ gown and her generous gesture to ditzy London starlet Pamela Penrose (Rose Williams), they add an uplifting coda that goes full fairy tale, even dropping a tantalizing hint that it’s not too late for Mrs. Harris to find a new love. The buoyant waltz themes of Rael Jones’ score fit the material to perfection."
David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter
THE NEXT TEN DAYS IN L.A.
Screenings of older films in Los Angeles-area theaters.
July 22
AGUIRRE, THE WRATH OF GOD (Popol Vuh) [Los Feliz 3]
BELOW DREAMS, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO LEARN TO PLOW BY READING BOOKS [UCLA/Hammer]
CLUELESS (David Kitay) [Academy Museum]
CON AIR (Mark Mancina, Trevor Rabin) [New Beverly]
EVEN DWARFS STARTED SMALL [BrainDead Studios]
GANJA & HESS (Sam Waymon) [Alamo Drafthouse]
THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY (Ennio Morricone) [New Beverly]
THE HATEFUL EIGHT (Ennio Morricone) [New Beverly]
MY WINNIPEG [BrainDead Studios]
SPEED RACER (Michael Giacchino) [Landmark Westwood]
VERTIGO (Bernard Hermann) [Aero]
July 23
AGUIRRE, THE WRATH OF GOD (Popol Vuh) [Los Feliz 3]
BACK TO THE FUTURE PART III (Alan Silvestri) [New Beverly]
BEVERLY HILLS NINJA (George S. Clinton) [Los Feliz 3]
THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY (Ennio Morricone) [New Beverly]
GOODFELLAS [Los Feliz 3]
POM POKO (Shang Shang Typhoon) [Alamo Drafthouse]
PROPERTY (Richard Tyler), PAYDIRT (Jon Newton) [UCLA/Hammer]
THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW (Richard O'Brien, Richard Hartley) [Landmark Westwood]
STARMAN (Jack Nitzsche), HOWARD THE DUCK (John Barry) [Aero]
STREET TRASH (Rick Ulfik) [BrainDead Studios]
TIM BURTON'S CORPSE BRIDE (Danny Elfman) [Academy Museum]
THE TOXIC AVENGER [BrainDead Studios]
THE VELVET VAMPIRE [New Beverly]
VIDEODROME (Howard Shore) [BrainDead Studios]
July 24
ALIENS (James Horner) [Fine Arts]
ARMAGEDDON (Trevor Rabin) [Academy Museum]
BACK TO THE FUTURE PART III (Alan Silvestri) [New Beverly]
BALLAST, GEORGE WASHINGTON (Michael Linnen, David Wingo) [UCLA/Hammer]
BRIEF ENCOUNTER [Los Feliz 3]
BULL DURHAM (Michael Convertino) [Los Feliz 3]
THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY (Ennio Morricone) [New Beverly]
GRIZZLY MAN (Richard Thompson) [Los Feliz 3]
IRMA VEP (Philippe Richard) [BrainDead Studios]
L'AGE D'OR [BrainDead Studios]
MEANTIME (Andrew Dickson) [Los Feliz 3]
POM POKO (Shang Shang Typhoon) [Alamo Drafthouse]
SELENA (Dave Grusin) [Academy Museum]
SPARTACUS (Alex North) [Aero]
July 25
THE BOSS BABY: FAMILY BUSINESS (Hans Zimmer, Steve Porcaro) [Alamo Drafthouse]
BREATHLESS (Jack Nitzsche), THE BIG EASY (Brad Fiedel) [New Beverly]
SWEET SIXTEEN (Tommy Vig) [Los Feliz 3]
July 26
BLADE RUNNER: THE FINAL CUT (Vangelis) [Academy Museum]
BREATHLESS (Jack Nitzsche), THE BIG EASY (Brad Fiedel) [New Beverly]
GANJA & HESS (Sam Waymon) [Alamo Drafthouse]
NIGHTBEAST (Jeffrey Abrams, Rob Walsh) [Alamo Drafthouse]
July 27
MEANTIME (Andrew Dickson) [Los Feliz 3]
NIGHTBEAST (Jeffrey Abrams, Rob Walsh) [Alamo Drafthouse]
SMITHEREENS (Glenn Mercer, Bill Million) [BrainDead Studios]
SPRING BREAKERS (Cliff Martinez, Skrillex), THIRTEEN (Mark Mothersbaugh) [New Beverly]
WHERE THE GREEN ANTS DREAM (Wandjuk Marika) [Los Feliz 3]
July 28
KHARTOUM (Frank Cordell) [Aero]
RAISING ARIZONA (Carter Burwell) [Los Feliz 3]
SPRING BREAKERS (Cliff Martinez, Skrillex), THIRTEEN (Mark Mothersbaugh) [New Beverly]
July 29
BOUND (Don Davis) [Alamo Drafthouse]
THE BROWN BUNNY [New Beverly]
THE HATEFUL EIGHT (Ennio Morricone) [Aero]
THE HATEFUL EIGHT (Ennio Morricone) [New Beverly]
JERRY MAGUIRE (Nancy Wilson) [Academy Museum]
JUBILEE [BrainDead Studios]
THE MASK (Randy Edelman) [New Beverly]
ROBOCOP (Basil Poledouris) [Landmark Westwood]
RUBY IN PARADISE (Charles Engstrom) [UCLA/Hammer]
SORCERER (Tangerine Dream) [Los Feliz 3]
SPACE IS THE PLACE [BrainDead Studios]
WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE? (Frank DeVol) [Los Feliz 3]
July 30
THE BROWN BUNNY [New Beverly]
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND (John Williams) [New Beverly]
DUTCHMAN (John Barry) [UCLA/Hammer]
HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH (Stephen Trask) [BrainDead Studios]
IT'S A MAD MAD MAD MAD WORLD (Ernest Gold) [Aero]
THE LAST UNICORN (Jimmy Webb) [Academy Museum]
A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN (Hans Zimmer) [Alamo Drafthouse]
MALA NOCHE (Creighton Lindsay) [BrainDead Studios]
PULP FICTION [Alamo Drafthouse]
THE RED TURTLE (Laurent Perez Del Mar) [Academy Museum]
THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW (Richard O'Brien, Richard Hartley) [Landmark Westwood]
SCENES FROM THE CLASS STRUGGLE IN BEVERLY HILLS (Stanley Myers) [Los Feliz 3]
SLEEPAWAY CAMP (Edward Bilous) [New Beverly]
STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN (James Horner) [Alamo Drafthouse]
STRICTLY BALLROOM (David Hirschfelder), WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE'S ROMEO + JULIET (Nellee Hooper, Craig Armstrong, Marius De Vries) [Academy Museum]
VELVET GOLDMINE (Carter Burwell) [BrainDead Studios]
WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE? (Frank DeVol) [Los Feliz 3]
July 31
BEETLEJUICE (Danny Elfman) [Fine Arts]
BORDER RADIO [UCLA/Hammer]
THE BROWN BUNNY [New Beverly]
CAREER GIRLS (Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Tony Remy) [Los Feliz 3]
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND (John Williams) [New Beverly]
THE EARRINGS OF MADAME DE... (Oscar Straus, Georges Van Parys) [Los Feliz 3]
A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN (Hans Zimmer) [Alamo Drafthouse]
INTO THE INFERNO [Los Feliz 3]
MAD MAX: FURY ROAD (Tom Holkenborg) [Academy Museum]
RADIO ON [BrainDead Studios]
THE STENDAHL SYNDROME (Ennio Morricone) [Alamo Drafthouse]
SUPERMAN (John Williams) [Alamo Drafthouse]
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES (John DuPrez) [BrainDead Studios]
THE THIRD GENERATION (Peer Raben) [BrainDead Studios]
THE WILD BUNCH (Jerry Fielding) [Aero]
THINGS I'VE HEARD, READ, SEEN OR WATCHED LATELY
Heard: Knowing (Beltrami); Seeking a Friend for the End of the World (Simonsen/Sadoff); Last Night (Louie/Pauk); On the Beach/The Secret of Santa Vittoria (Gold); Don't Look Up (Britell); The Core (Young); The World, The Flesh and the Devil (Rozsa), The Nightmare Before Christmas (Elfman); Tim Burton's Corpse Bride (Elfman); Amor Prohibido (Selena); De Natura Sonorum (Parmegiani); Legend (Goldsmith); Gold (Doris Day); The Road Warrior (May)
Read: French Braid, by Anne Tyler
Seen: Babe; Thor: Love and Thunder; Out of Sight; Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris; The Gray Man; Face/Off; Both Sides of the Blade; Flux Gourmet
Watched: How to Make a Monster [1958]; The Boys ("The Name of the Game"); Star Trek ("Elaan of Troyius"); Archer ("A Discovery"); You're the Worst ("The Sweater People"); The House Where Evil Dwells; Breaking Bad ("I.F.T."); Star Trek ("Whom Gods Destroy"); What We Do in the Shadows ("Manhattan Night Club"); You're the Worst ("Crevasses"); The Boys ("Cherry")
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